Removable magnetic lid for a container

ABSTRACT

There is provided herein a removable magnetic lid for a container, which lid contains a magnet which forms either the entire lid or a substantial portion thereof, and which magnet can be removed from the container and placed on a metal object to display text or advertising present on the magnet. There is also provided a lidded storage container which contains the removable magnetic lid, and a method of removing a magnet from the removable magnetic lid.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present application is directed to a lid for a container, more specifically a lid which contains advertising or text thereon.

2. Background of the Art

Advertisers are constantly seeking new venues and means for presenting their advertising logos, slogans, and various other advertising information. The most predominant location for placing advertising information is on the surface of product packaging. One of the most common locations for product packaging is on a lid to a product container, such as on the lid of a storage container, e.g., containers used in food products, as well as containers used in footwear products such as shoeboxes, amongst others. Advertising on such containers provides continued product promotion while the packaging is in a customer's presence. However, when such product packaging is discarded shortly after the consumption of the product or removal of the product from the container, then such product packing ceases to function as a noticeable source of advertising space. It would thus be desirable to be able to provide product containers which function as a more tenable long-lasting source of advertising space, even after the product is removed from the container.

SUMMARY

Applicants have unexpectedly discovered that a lid for a storage container can be either entirely, or predominantly, made from a magnetic material, which serves the function of covering the contents of the container in the manner usually associated with a lid to a container, but also which can be removed from the lid of the container after the container is opened to function as an independent promotional magnet, e.g., by its placement on a household refrigerator door or a car panel or bumper to display the advertising information.

Thus, there is provided herein, a removable magnetic lid for a container which comprises a magnet having an indicia side and an opposing magnetic side, and wherein the magnet is an entire lid to a container, or a substantial portion of a lid to a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container possessing a removable magnetic lid.

FIG. 2 is a view of the removable magnetic lid depicting a possible method of removal of the magnet from the lid of the container and illustrating the location of a magnetic surface on the magnet and a protective layer underneath.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the container and the removable magnetic lid.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tubular container with the removable magnetic lid presented as a removable magnetic film and depicting the removal of the magnetic film from the container and illustrates the manner of placement of an optional clear lid thereover.

FIG. 5 depicts the removable magnetic lid used on a shoe apparel box, wherein the magnet is inserted into divots or clip members on the lid of the box.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the removable magnetic lid, the removable magnet and the underlying container depicted in use as a shoe apparel box.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the removable magnetic lid when the magnet takes up a substantial portion of the removable magnetic lid.

FIG. 8 is a view of a removable magnetic lid wherein the magnet takes up a substantial portion of the lid and depicting the magnet upon removal from the lid.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a removable magnetic lid for a container which is a box, wherein the lid has perforated corner seams which can be separated to provide a removable planar magnet therefrom.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a removable planar magnet such as is obtained upon perforating the seams shown in FIG. 9, and which contains further perforations for removal of a shaped removable planar magnet.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a refrigerator door depicting the display of the magnets of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a rear view of an automobile depicting the display of the magnets of the invention.

Like reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure.

Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Any ranges described herein can comprises any combination of endpoints of such ranges. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure. The use of the expressions “comprising” or “comprises” herein shall in further embodiments also be considered to encompass the expressions “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of”.

The containers described herein can be any commercially available storage containers, such as those for food storage, liquid storage, powder storage, apparel products such as shoes, and similar products. Common examples of storage containers include cardboard or plastic containers with lids and multi-sized and shaped lid/container combinations for covering and stacking. The containers can come in a wide variety of sizes, including short ones that hold small amounts of food and larger ones to hold bulk items such as cereal or flour, as well as containers that are made very tall and which hold products like spaghetti.

Materials for storage containers can include plastics like polyethylene (both high- and low-density), polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, and acrylic, metal, such as the non-limiting example of aluminum, wood and paper containers such as the non-limiting example of cardboard. The containers can be of any suitable shape or design, and can be, for example, rectangular, round, square, and oval. The containers can include those used for liquid or semi-solid food products, such as ice cream, water, milk, soda, beer, wine, liquor, yoghurt, butter, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, peanut butter, jam, spreadable cheese, and the like. In addition, the storage containers can be used for dried food products such as snacks, e.g., chips or granola and the like, dry cereals, nuts, flour, sugar, salt, powdered milk, dried beans and legumes, dried fruits and vegetables, pasta, rice, dried potatoes, yeast, bouillon cubes, spices, powdered foods like instant breakfast products, oatmeal and the like, as well as meal-replacement powders intended for shakes, coffee, powdered eggs, dried meats such as jerky and the like. In addition, the storage containers can include cups, bowls, tubes, jars, boxes, bottles, buckets and any suitable type of storage container. In one embodiment the storage container can be a “to-go” container from a restaurant.

The magnet as described herein, can be any magnet of any suitable material and having any suitable magnetic strength. It will be understood herein that the magnet can preferably be planar or substantially planar. In another embodiment, the magnet can be bent, creased or the like in certain portions, such as wherein it is used as the complete lid of a container, such as the lid of a shoe box, and the portions of the lid which are bent over in a direction perpendicular to the planar portion of the magnet (i.e. the main portion of the top of the shoe box) overlie a portion of the sides of the underlying shoe box. The magnet thickness can be chosen on a variety of factors such as the product in the container, the desired level of production costs, the type and/or shape and/or size of underlying container, any further layers that may or may not be used in the container lid, or the eventual use of the removable magnet once removed from the lid. In one non-limiting embodiment the magnet thickness can be from about 0.1 mil to about 10 mil, preferably from about 0.2 mil to about 5 mil and most preferably from about 0.5 mil to about 3 mil.

The magnet once removed can be affixed to an object, such as any ferromagnetic object, and thus, should be of a suitable magnetic strength to be affixed to such an object, such as, but not limited to, sufficient magnetic strength to be affixed to an object selected from the group consisting of a refrigerator, freezer, microwave, dishwasher, oven, vent hood, sink, kitchen or other cabinet containing a metal component, and a metal part of a car. The size of the magnet will preferably correspond to at least an entire opening of a corresponding container, but may further also be of sufficient size to also include a conventional pull tab for removing the magnetic lid when opening the container, such as when the magnet is a film magnet of very thin magnetic material. In one embodiment, the size of the magnet will be less than the size of an opening to a container, as is described herein.

For purpose of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, exemplary embodiments of the removable magnetic lid are for the container as described above, and in accordance with the disclosed subject matter, and are shown in FIGS. 1-11. The removable magnetic lid is suitable for use with a corresponding container, which is capable of housing a wide variety of perishable and nonperishable products such as those described above, but not limited thereto. However, for purpose of understanding, reference will be made to the use of the container disclosed herein with food items, such as those described above, and apparel items such as shoes in shoe boxes, wherein the container can be used for shipping, serving, storing, preparing and/or re-using such food or apparel items.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is provided a covered storage container 10, which contains a removable magnetic lid 20 for a container 30. The magnet 21 is shown as being part of a removable magnetic lid 20, in that there is a retaining element 23, that overlies the magnet 21, and an underlying optional protection layer 25, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The magnet 21 can function as the entire lid of the container 30, such as, for example, in the pull-tab configuration shown in FIG. 4, or in the collapsed shoe box lid shown in FIG. 10, or alternatively, as a substantial portion of a lid to the container 30, such as wherein it is combined with the retaining element 23 and an optional protection layer 25 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or is a part of the shoe box lid shown in FIGS. 5-8.

In one embodiment, it will be understood herein that the magnet 21 acts as the entire lid of the container 30 generally means that the magnet 21 is operating, not in addition to the retaining element 23, but as the sole material covering an opening 33 to the container 30, although the retaining element 23 can optionally also be used therein. That is to say, in one embodiment the lid is in the absence of another material which is part of the lid, and/or to which the magnet 21 is adhered. Stated alternatively, the magnet 21 acts as the actual lid to the container, and when removed from the removable magnetic lid 20, there is either a large opening 33 to the lid as compared to when the magnet 21 was present in the lid (such as is shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, i.e., a substantial part), or wherein the magnet 21 makes up the entire lid, then with the removal of the magnet 21, the lid is then completely absent, such as in FIG. 9.

In keeping with the above, when the magnet 21 acts as the entire lid of the container, it is that the magnet 21 covers more than 95% of the opening 33 of the underlying container 30, preferably more than 99% of the opening 33 of the underlying container 30, and most preferably covers 100%, or more, of the opening 33 of the underlying container 30. Such a depiction is shown in FIGS. 1-4. In one embodiment, more than 100% coverage can be wherein the magnet 21 covers the entire opening 33 and also provides additional material for a pull tab 34, such as is shown in FIG. 4.

Further in keeping with the above, when the magnet 21 pertains to “a substantial portion” of a lid of the container 30, it is that the magnet 21 covers from about 50% to about 94%, preferably from about 75% to about 90%, and most preferably from about 80% to about 90% of the opening 33 of the corresponding underlying container 30. In an alternative embodiment, the when the magnet 21 is “a substantial portion” of a lid of the container 30 is that it comprises 99% to 110% of the opening 33 of the underlying container 30, but is in this embodiment, the magnet 21 may be used also in conjunction with a retaining layer 23, and an optional food protection layer 25, such as that shown in FIG. 4, when the retaining element 23 is employed.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the retaining element 23 maintains the magnet 21 in a position which covers at least a substantial portion and up to a complete portion of an opening 33 to the corresponding container 30.

Referring to FIG. 2, the removable magnetic lid 20 for the storage container 30 is displayed in an orientation which is inverted after the removable magnetic lid 20 is removed from the container 30, and turned over. In the inverted orientation of FIG. 2, the magnet 21 is also shown partially inverted to show a magnetic side 24, which is on the opposite side of the indicia side 22. As indicated, the indicia side 22 can have imprinted thereon, any logo, emblem, insignia, crest, seal, or advertisement information.

The magnet 21 can be removed from the removable magnetic lid 20 by pushing the magnet 21 from the indicia side 22 with one's finger(s) and/or hand(s) such that the magnet 21 is separated from the retaining element 23. Alternatively, or in addition to this method, the magnet 21 can be removed from the removable magnetic lid 20 by prying and/or peeling the magnet 21 from the inside 26 of the retaining element 23. When the magnet 21 is removed from the removable magnetic lid 20, it can be magnetically adhered by its magnetic side 24 to a suitable ferromagnetic surface, e.g., a surface which is made of an iron-containing metal, or which contains an iron-containing metal underneath such surface. Such surfaces can be a surface of an object, such as those objects, preferably kitchen objects (appliances) described herein above, and as is shown in the non-limiting embodiments of FIGS. 11 and 12.

The retaining element 23 can be made of any suitable material, such as is described herein above for the container 30, and can be the same or different material from that used to manufacture the container 30. In one preferable embodiment, the container 30 is manufactured of paper or carboard, which can have an optional moisture-impermeable coating, e.g., wax, thereon, and the retaining element 23 is made of a plastic material. The retaining element 23 can have a ledge 27 on a portion of the inside 26, on which ledge 27 an outer periphery of the indicia side 22 of magnet 21 is shown resting in FIG. 2 when the removable magnetic lid 20 is in the inverted position. In one non-limiting embodiment, the ledge 27 can contain an optional adhesive for adherence of the indicia side 22 to the retaining element 23. The adhesive can be any suitable adhesive, such as the non-limiting examples of epoxies, polyurethanes, polyimides, polyacrylates, in any form, e.g. paste, liquid, gel, film, pellets, tape, and of any type, e.g. hot melt, reactive hot melt, thermosetting, pressure sensitive, contact, etc., and of any load carrying capability, e.g., structural, semi-structural, or non-structural.

In the normal position of the removable magnetic lid 20, i.e., in an orientation corresponding to its placement on a container, which normal position is depicted in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3, the outer periphery (a small inset from the circumference, e.g., about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm) of the magnet 21 is sandwiched and held in place between the ledge 27 and a rim 31 of the underlying container 30. Such an orientation may also comprise the optional protection layer 25 located beneath the magnetic side 24 of the magnet 21, and above, or within the circumference of, the rim 31 of the container 30.

The retaining element 23 can have an upper retaining end 28 and a side retaining end 29. In FIG. 1, the upper retaining end 28 covers at least a portion of the planar indicia surface 22 of the magnet 21, preferably only a periphery (as noted above) thereof, and the perpendicular side retaining end 29 covers a portion of the side(s) 32 of the underlying corresponding container 30, preferably from 1% to about 20% and more preferably from about 5% to about 10% of the length L of the side 32. The juxtaposition of the ledge 27 in the upper retaining end 28 over indicia surface 22 of the magnet 21 and the side retaining end 29 over the side 32 of the underlying container 30, causes the retaining element 23 to secure the magnet 21 on a rim 31 of the underlying corresponding container 30, when the removable magnetic lid 20 is placed on the container 30. The retaining element 23 can be clear, opaque or colored.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the upper retaining end 28 extends over the entire surface area of the indicia side 22 of the magnet 21 and is clear so that the indicia are still visible when the retaining element 23 is placed over the magnet 21, such as is shown in FIG. 4. In one other embodiment, the retaining layer 23 covers only a small peripheral portion (from 0.1% to about 10%, preferably from 0.5% to about 5%) of the surface area of indicia surface 22 of the magnet 21, preferably an inset peripheral circumference of the surface area of the indicia surface 22. While not depicted in FIG. 4, such an embodiment of the retaining layer 23 covering a small peripheral portion (as noted above) of the indicia surface 22, could be employed by employing a retaining layer 23 such as depicted in FIG. 1 on top of the magnet 21 employed in FIG. 4. In one embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the retaining element 23 is not employed and the magnet 21 is secured on the container rim 31 by an adhesive (not shown) such as is described above, but wherein the adhesive is placed on the rim 31 of the container 30.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8 there is provided a container 30, which is in a non-limiting embodiment of a shoe box container 30, with a removable magnetic lid 20 which contains the magnet 21, having the indicia side 22 and the magnetic side 24, and wherein the magnetic lid 20 functions both as the lid and retaining element 23 as described hereinabove. The retaining element 23 has the upper retaining side 28 and a side retaining end 29, and the upper retaining side 28 contains extending divot or clip members 35, which cover at least a portion of the surface area of the indicia side 22 of magnet 21 and which members 35 retain the magnet 21 in place, and wherein the side retaining ends 29 cover at least a portion of a side 32 of the container 30. The members 35 serve as a means for wedging, clipping, prying, inserting or otherwise maintaining the magnet 21 in place in the removable magnetic lid 20 on the upper retaining end 28. The members 35 can be on one, two, three or four corners or positions of the magnet 21 and can cover preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5% of the surface area of the indicia side 22 of magnet 21. Such ranges can have lower endpoints of any one of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5% and 1.0%. Alternately, the members 35 can be located in non-corner positions. While magnet 21 is shown as a rectangle in FIGS. 5-8, it can also be round, oval, square, triangular or any other suitable shape.

Referring to FIGS. 7-8 there is provided the same embodiments as shown in FIGS. 5-6 but wherein the magnet 21 takes up more surface area of the magnetic lid 20 such as the values of the substantial portion the lid described above.

Referring to FIGS. 9-10, there is provided an alternate embodiment of the shoe box container 30 having a removable magnetic lid 20, wherein the entire removable magnetic lid 20 is the magnet 21, including the side retaining elements 29. Preferably, the removable magnetic lid 20 contains perforated corners 36 which can be separated after removal of the removable magnetic lid 20 from the container 30 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 10 such that the removable magnetic lid 20 then becomes a planar magnet 21. In addition, the removable magnetic lid 20 can optionally have side perforations 37 which allow the side retaining elements 29 to be removed from the removable magnetic lid 20 and thus, the magnet 21 of FIG. 10 is then made into a rectangular planar magnet 21 (not shown) by tearing away the side retaining elements 29 to provide a more aesthetically pleasing magnet 21. While the side perforations 37 are shown as straight lines in FIG. 10, the side perforations 37 could also be of any suitable configuration or pattern such that the removed planar magnet 21 shape, such as depicting a circle, oval, square, or specific logo design or desired text.

In one embodiment herein, there is also provided a method of removing magnet 21 used in removable magnetic lid 20 from the removable magnetic lid 20 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5-8, removing magnet 21 from adherence to an underlying container 30 as shown in FIG. 4, or using the entire removable magnetic lid 20 as the magnet 21 as shown in FIGS. 9-10, and then placing magnet 21 on an object, such as those described herein, to display the indicia side 22 of the magnet 21, such as is depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12.

It is to be understood herein that any of the embodiments described herein to one figure herein can be used in any other figure and in combinations of such embodiments. In one embodiment, any configuration or description provided herein can be omitted from the corresponding figure or description and the resulting embodiments can be in the absence of such an omitted embodiment or description.

While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Where this application has listed the steps of a method or procedure in a specific order, it may be possible, or even expedient in certain circumstances, to change the order in which some steps are performed, and it is intended that the particular steps of the method or procedure claim set forth herein below not be construed as being order-specific unless such order specificity is expressly stated in the claim. Any of the structure, components, methods or procedures described herein can be used by any user in the manner described herein.

While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. Modification or combinations of the above-described assemblies, other embodiments, configurations, and methods for carrying out the invention, and variations of aspects of the invention that are obvious to those of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of the claims. 

1. A removable magnetic lid for a container, comprising: a magnet having an indicia side and an opposing magnetic side, wherein the magnet is an entire lid to a container or a substantial portion of a lid to a container.
 2. The removable magnetic lid of claim 1, wherein the magnet is of a size which corresponds to at least an entire opening of a container.
 3. The removable magnetic lid of claim 2, wherein the size of the magnet is sufficient to cover the entire opening of a container and to form a pull tab for removing the magnetic lid from the container.
 4. The removable magnetic lid of claim 1, wherein the magnet functions as a substantial portion of a lid to a container, and which removable magnetic lid further comprises a retaining element which maintains the magnet in a position which covers at least a substantial part of an opening to the container.
 5. The removable magnetic lid of claim 4, wherein the retaining element has an upper retaining end and a side retaining end, and wherein the upper retaining end covers at least a portion of the surface area of the indicia side of the magnet, and wherein the side retaining end covers at least a portion of a side of a corresponding container.
 6. The removable magnetic lid of claim 5, wherein the upper end retaining end of the retaining element covers the entire surface area of the of the indicia side of the magnet.
 7. The removable magnetic lid of claim 4, wherein the retaining element has an upper retaining end and a side retaining end, and wherein the upper retaining end comprises extending divot or clip members which cover at least a portion of the surface area of the indicia side of the magnet, and which members retain the magnet in place, and wherein the side retaining end covers at least a portion of a side of a corresponding container.
 8. The removable magnetic lid of claim 1, wherein the magnet functions as an entire lid to a container and wherein the magnet is of a size which covers the entire opening of a corresponding container and at least a portion of the side of the corresponding container.
 9. The removable magnetic lid of claim 8, wherein the magnet contains side perforations which are detachable such that the magnet can form a planar magnet when the magnetic lid is separated along the perforations.
 10. The removable magnetic lid of claim 8, wherein the magnet functions as an entire lid to a container and wherein the magnet contains a perforated shape which can be perforated and removed from the magnet to provide a shaped removable magnet.
 11. A container having a removable magnetic lid wherein the removable magnetic lid comprises: a magnet having an indicia side and an opposing magnetic side, and wherein the magnet functions as an entire lid to the container or a substantial portion of the lid to the container.
 12. The container of claim 11, wherein the removable magnetic lid functions as a substantial portion of the lid to the container, and wherein the removable magnetic lid further comprises a retaining element which maintains the magnet in a position which covers at least a substantial part of an opening to the container.
 13. The container of claim 12, wherein the retaining element has an upper retaining end and a side retaining end, and wherein the upper retaining end covers at least a portion of the surface area of the indicia side of the magnet, and wherein the side retaining end covers at least a portion of a side of the container, and wherein the retaining element causes a portion of the magnetic side of the magnet to contact a rim of the container when the magnetic lid is placed on the container.
 14. The container of claim 12, wherein the retaining element has an upper retaining end and a side retaining end, and wherein the upper retaining end comprises extending divots or clip members which cover at least a portion of the surface area of the indicia side of the magnet and which members retain a portion of the magnet, and wherein the side retaining end covers at least a portion of a side of a corresponding container, and wherein the retaining element causes a portion of the magnetic side of the magnet to contact a rim of the container when the magnetic lid is placed on the container.
 15. The container of claim 11, wherein the magnet functions as the entire lid to the container, and wherein the magnet is dimensioned to cover the entire opening of the container and at least a portion of the side of the corresponding container, and wherein a portion of the magnetic side of the magnet contacts a rim of the container when the magnetic lid is placed on the container.
 16. The container of claim 11, wherein the container has a circular or oval opening.
 17. The container of claim 11, wherein the container is a box.
 18. A method of removing a magnet from a lid of a container comprising: providing a container having a removable magnetic lid wherein the removable magnetic lid comprises: a magnet having an indicia side and an opposing magnetic side, and wherein the magnet functions as the entire lid to the container or a substantial portion of the lid to the container; and, a retaining element which maintains the magnet in a position which covers at least a substantial part of an opening to the container, and wherein the retaining element contains a ledge on an internal circumference of the retaining element which supports the magnet on its opposing magnetic side during use; removing the removable magnetic lid from the container; inverting the removable magnetic lid; and, pushing and/or prying the magnet from the ledge to remove the magnet from the removable magnetic lid.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the removable magnetic lid contains a protection layer underneath the magnet which protection layer is supported by the ledge.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the protection layer is removed prior to removing the magnet. 